Spring-hinge



(Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

D. M. HOIT.

SPRING HINGE.

No. 403,670. Patented May 21 1889.

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(Model.) 2 sheets-sheet 2.

D. M. HOIT. SPRING HINGE.

No. 403,670. Patented May 21 1889.

i IIVIIIIIIIIlI-llllllll lllllmlllllllllllilllll l w "In UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL M. IIOIT, OF MORRIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE COLEMAN IIARDIVARE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

e SPRING-HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,670, dated May 21, 1889.

Application iiled .Iuly 2, 1888. Serial No. 278,866. (Model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL M. Holr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring- Hinges,of which the following' is a specification.

The object of my invention, in general terms, is to make a spring-hinge that will tend to hold a door, gate, shutter, or other object on which it is mounted closed until it is opened beyond a certain point, when it will tend to keep it closed; and my invention consists in the features and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of my improved hinge viewed from above; Fig. 2, a plan view 0f the same viewed from below; Fig. 3, a plan view of a modification viewed from above; Fig. a, a side elevation of the hinge shown in Fig. l; Fig. 5, a longitudinal vertical section taken in the line 5 5 of Fig. l, looking in the direction ot' the arrows; Fig. G, a transverse vertical section taken in the line G 6 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and Fig. 7, an end elevation of the ratchet shown in Fig. 6, looking in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrows.

In the drawings, A A are the leaves of the hinge; B, the coiled spring; C, the axis around which the coiled spring is arranged; D, the knuckle at the end of such axis; E, a T- headed lever; F, a hook or lug to receive and guide the free end of the T-headed lever; G,

a collar for the outer end of the spring; II, a collar for the inner end of the spring; I, a ratchet-wheel on such collar; J, an ear or lug through which the inner end of the axis of the coiled spring passes.

In making my improved spring-hinge I make two leaves of suitable form, which are provided with ears or lugs raised above or out of the plane of the hinge-leaves. These ears or lugs are intended to embrace or iit each other, so as to aii'ord means of pivotally connecting the hin ge-leaves together. They may be connected together by means of ordinary rivets, as shown in Fig. 3, or by means of pins or studs cast on two of the ears and passing through holes in the other ears intended to receive them, as shown in Figs. l and 2. Then the ears or lugs of the hinge-leaves are connected together by pins or studs cast thereon or attached thereto, I prefer to provide one of them with a tongue or projection at one side, (indicated by the letter T,) and to provide the hole in which it is intended to be inserted with a slot, which Ihave indicated by the letter S. These features are particularly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. In inserting the pin or stud it mustbe turned to that position which will bring its tongue or projection in a line with the slot, when it may be inserted and turned as desired. This arrangement for pivotally connecting the ears or lugs of the hinge-leaves together, however, is only one of the various ways in which it may be done. As before suggested, common rivets, as shown in Fig. 3, will serve the purpose; but however connected together I term the pivotal points the axis of the hinge.

I prefer to provide one of the hinge-leaves with an inclosing barrel or case, as shown in several iigures of the drawings. This barrel or case is intended to receive the coiled spring and protect it from rust or injury by the weather, or from the interference of children or curious persons. This case or barrel for inclosing the spring is not, however, essential to the construction and operation of my invention, and in the third figure ot' the drawings I have shown it as dispensed with and the spring exposed to view; but whether a barrel or case be employed or not the leaf is adapted and intended to receive a coiled spring located lengthwise of the leaf, by which I mean substantially at right angles to the axis of the hinge. This spring may consist of one or more coils of spring-wire of the size, strength, and elasticity desired. I have shown it as composed of a number of coils; but I wish to say here that the number of coils employed is a mat-ter that can be varied at pleasure, and, if desired, less than one entire coil can be used. This spring is intended to be mounted upon or coiled around or partially around an axis, C. This axis passes through bearings or holes in both the inner and the outer end of the barrel, as shown particularly in Fig. 5 of the drawings, or, where the barrel or case is dispensed with, through holes or bear- IOO ings in the ears or lugs corresponding to the ends f the barrel or case, as shown in Fig. 3. The axis is provided near its outer bearing with a collar, Gr, which is mounted securely thereon and so as to rotate therewith. This collar may be prevented from rotation by providing it with a square or angular hole and making that portion of the axis 0n which .it is mounted of a corresponding angular `lar in that-direction which tends to coil and increase the tension of the spring. As this collar is principally intended to afford means for attaching the outer end 0f the spring-wire to its axis, soins to carry it around as the axis is turned and further coil or bend the spring, it is obvious that it may be entirely dispensed with and the end 0f t-he Wire fastened insome convenient 'way to the axis,-so a-s to be carried around `as it is rotated, though I prefer to use the collar I have illustrated in the drawings and have described above. The other or inner end 0f the spring-wire is intended to be fastened in a notch orhole, which remains in the same relative position as the parts are operated. shown in Fig. 2, is made in the inner end of the barrel or case, though it is obvious that any arrangement may be adopted for securing the inner end of the wire which will hold it securely and non-rotatably asthe other end is turned or-coiled by the rotation of the springaxis.

It' desired, the inner end of the spring may rest in a notch or hole in an adj listing-collar, TI, as shown `in Figs. 3 and 7. This collar is mounted rotatably on the spring-axis and is 'provided with aratchet, and a pawl is pivoted on the inner edge ofthe ear 0r lug corresponding to the inner end of the barrel or case, though other means may be employed t0 lock 0r hold the adj ustingcollar at whatever point it vmay be rotated on the spring-axis. When this arrangement is used, the tension of the spring may be adjusted from time to time, or-

allyclaimed; and I may also say in this connection that the inner endof the spring-wire maybe connected with the spring-axis, so as to be carried around with. it, and the outer e'nd held in a fixed position, if preferred. In

- of the axis.

This notch or hole, as.

other words, it is immaterial whichend of the spring-wire is l'held iixed and which end is carried around by the rotation of the springaxis.

The inner end 0f the axis of the spring is provided with a knuckle, D. This knuckle is furnished with .two bearings, d d', which may be of greater or less distance apart, as may be desired. They are intended to furnish the leverage points by which force may be applied to rotate the axis of the hinge and furi ther bend 0r coil the spring. They should therefore be of such distance apart as will c0r` respond to .the power and ten sion 0f the spring intended to be bent or coiled by the turning If the spring be light, these bearings may be close together; but if the spring `is strong and powerful, so that considerable leverage may be required to coil or bend it,

they should be of. greater distance apart. `In

this respect the leverage may be likened to that afforded bythe hand-wheel or car-brakes operated by the brakeman, where the greater the diameter of the wheel the more leverage power it aifords i-n operation. I then make a T-headed lever, E, the members of whose T-head, as shown in the drawings, are 0f `a proper length and size to rest in the bearings vprovided in the knuckle D. The .position of this Theaded lever will be understood by reference to the drawings, where itis particularly shown in Fig.2.

The members of the T-head engage with the bearings Vin 'the knuckle at'oppo'site sides of the axis, so that one of the members rests in the bearing on the under side 0f the knuckle and the other in the bearing on the upper side of the knuckle. It is obvious that when thus engaged any turning of the lever willl cause a turning of the axis in the'bearings ofwhose IOO knuckle the members of the T-head are arranged. It is intended, however, that-the nncoiling power of the spring shall cause the bearings inthe knuckle to press against the respective members ofthe T-head with which gle,where it passes under 0r through a guide" hook 0r hole, F, provided at one corner of the hinge-leaf, as shown inthe drawings. This guide or hole is made in any convenient way,

although I have represented it in the form of a hook or lug extending up above the plane of the hinge-leaf and inclosing the free end 0f the lever. Y

I have'described the .members of `the lever as resting one ina bearing 0n the under side" 'ofthe knuckle andthe other in a bearing on the upper side of the knuckle. This arrangement is well shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

IIO

As there shown, the under side of one of the members and the upper side of the other are open or exposed. The member which is exposed on the under side is prevented from falling out by the torsional power of the spring operating through the arrangement of the lever at an angle to the axis of the spring, which brings the members against opposite sides of the bearings. NVhile I have shown each of the members as exposed or open at one side, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to this construction, exceptin those claims where such arrangement may be specifically claimed, as it is obvious that one or even both of the members could be arranged in bearings which are closed or made in the form of holes, provided they are made sufciently large to enable the ends of the members of the lever to properly turn or play in the folding of the hinge-leaves. I have also shown the hinge-leaves opening in but one direction, though it is obvious that the ears or lugs of the hinge-leaves may be so made and pivoted together as to permitv the hinge to fold in either direction, and so make the hinge a reversible one, to accommodate either right or left hand doors. These various modifications will be sufficiently plain from an examination of the drawings without further minute description.

IVhen I have made the parts as above described, I coil or bend the wire forming the spring as few or as many times about its axis as desired. .The axis is arranged in its bearings on one of the hinge-leaves, and one end of the wire connected so as to rotate with it, and the other end of the wire fixed so that it will be held without rotating. I then turn the knuckle on the inner end of the axis until the spring-wire has been bent or coiled to that degree of tension required, and so that the bearings on the knuckle which is intended to be in the angle formed by the axis of the spring and the axis of the lever shall be above the plane of such axes and the tendency of the uncoiling power of the spring'- wire exerted in that direction which would carry such bearing below such axes. I then, while holding the knuckle in this position, insert the members of the T-head of the lever in their respective bearings and slip the free end of the lever through the hole or guide intended for it in the other leaf of the hinge -and pivotally connect their ears in condition for use. The tendency of the spring will be to uncoil and rotate its axis and the T-headed lever with which it is engaged; but as that bearing which is in the angle formed by the axis of the spring and the axis of the lever is, as above explained, above the plane of these axes, it is obvious that the spring cannot rotate the parts in that direction as long as the free end of the lever is held by the hole or guide F at an angle. It can only rotate further in that direction by bringing the axis of the lever and the axis of the spring in a line, which is prevented by the hole or guide F. The limit of rotation in the direction which will open the spring is therefore reached at that point at which the spring is opened or its leaves unfolded and in the same plane. No such obstacle exists, however, to rotation in the opposite direction, and as the hinges of the leaves are folded or turned back toward each other the lever is carried with them, and, as it is set at an angle so that it cannot fold back like the leaves of the hinge, it is forced to rotate, and with it rotate the axis of the spring, by which the spring is further bent or coiled and its tension increased. This operation continues until the hinge-leaves have been opened toward each other to or about to one-quarter of a revolution and the spring-axis rotated to or about to one-quarter revolution, when the lever begins to approach the axis of the hinge, but so as to form an acute instead of an obtuse angle, and to permit the spring axis to reverse the direction of its rotation. The moment the lever has passed the line that brings it at a right angle to the axis of the spring the uncoiling power of the spring is immediately exerted to bring it to an acute angle, while as soon as it passes the right-angle line in the other direction the tendency of the spring is to bring it to an obtuse angle. In this way the leaves of the spring are held open or unfolded until ythe door or gate t0 which they are attached has been opened about ninety degrees, when the spring immediately begins to exert its power t0 bring the gate or doorback anotherninety degrees. The spring therefore operates to hold the gate or door closed until opened to a certain point by the application of positive force and then to hold itopen until it is closed to a certain point by the application of positive force.

IOO

That I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a spring-hinge, the combination of two leaves of suitable form provided with ears or lugs pivotally connected together at points outside of the plane of the hingeleaves, a spring-axis arranged in bearings on one of the hin ge-leaves and rotatable therein, a spring-wire coiled or bent around or partially around the spring-axis and having one of its ends held in a fixed position and the other of its ends carried around with the rotation of the spring-axis, and a lever engaging at one end with one end of the springaxis and having' its other end connected with the other hinge-leaf, whereby it is rotatable on its longitudinal axis by the folding of the hinge-leaves in that direction which rotates the spring-axis and further coils or bends the spring-wire, substantially as described.

2. In a spring-hinge, the combination of two leaves of suitable form provided with ears or lugs pivotally connected together at points outside of the plane of the hin ge-leaves, a spring-axis arranged in bearings on one of the hinge leaves and rotatable therein, a spring-wirepoiled or bent around orpartially IIO around .the spring-axis and having one ,of its l ends held ina fixed position and the other of its .ends carried around with the rotation of the spring-axis, ,and a lever arranged atan angle .to the spring-.axis when .the hinge-leaves are open or unfolded -andengaging yat one .of its ends with one end of the .spring-axisand havits other end connectedwith theother hingeleaf,whereby it is rotatableon its longitudinal axis by the folding of the hinge-leaves in that i direction which rotates the `spring-axis and further oolsor bends the spring-Wire :until the lever reaches a .point at right angles to the spring-axis., when the further yfolding of the hinge-leaves .permits the spring-axis t be rotated .in vthat `direction which uncoils .or

unbends the `spr-ing-vvwire, substantially as -described. y y

3. In a springt-hinge, the combination of vtwo :leaves :of suitable form provided with ears or lugs pivotal1yconnected together at pointsoutside of the planeof the hinge-leaves, aspring-axis .arranged in bearings on one of the hinge -leaves and rotatable therein, a spring-wire .coiled Aor 'bent 'around or partially around the spring-.axis and having one of its ends held in .tixedposition and the other of its .ends carried around with the rotation of the spring-axis, and va lever arranged `at an angle :to .the spring-axis wlienthe hinge-leaves -areiopen ,or unfolded and engaging at oneof its .ends with'one end of .thespring-axis-ata point-Within the angle and above the planeof the springaxis and .leveriwfhen the hinge- `leaves .are open `or unfolded and having `its other end connected with the other hin ge-'leai", whereby it is rotatable on its :longitudinal axis by the ioldingof the hinge-leavesin that u direction .which rotates the spring-axis and further coils 4or bends -the spring-wire, substantially as described.

. L lli. In a spring-hinge, the-combination of two p leaves-of lsuitable form `provided .with `ears or .lugs pivotallyconnected togetherV at points outside of the plane of `the hinge-leaves, a. spring-axis arranged inbearings on one ofthe hinge-.leaves and rotatable therein and provided atene end with bearingsv on opposite sides of the .axis,.aspring-wire coiledaround or partially around the spring-axis and ihaving v011e lof `its ends heldin a fixed position and the otherof 4itsends carried around Vwith the:

rotation of the vspring-axis, and a lever havinglugs on one end adapted to engage with thebearings `on the end of the spring-axis and having its Votherend connected With the other- .hinge-leaf, whereby it is rotatable on its longitudinal axis bythe Vfolding of the hingeleaves in that direction which rotates the spring-axis and VJfurther coi-1s orbends the spring-wire, substantially as described.

5. In aspring-hinge, thecombination of two leaves of suitable form provided withl ears or lugs pivotally yconnected together `at points outside of the plane of the hinge-leaves, a spring-axis arranged in bearings-on one of the hinge-leaves and rotatable therein and provided at one end with bearings on opposite sides of the axis and adapted lto engage the upper side of one lug and-the lower .side of the other lug of a `lever and leave the opposite sides open or exposed, a spring-Wire coiled around or partially around the spring-axis position and the vother of its rends carried around with the rotation ofV spring-axis, and a lever having lugs onone end adapted to engage with the bearings on the end iof the .spring-axisat the opposite .sides Vthereof on the upper side of one lug and the 4under side of the other lug and leave the OPpQsite vside open or exposed, and having its' other end connected with the other hinge-leaf, whereby itis .rotatable on its 'longitudinal axis by the folding of lthe hinge-leaves in that direction `which rotates the spring-axis and f urthercoils or bends the spring-Wire, substantially fas described.

6. 'In a-spring-hinge, the combination of two leaves yot' `suitable form Vprovided with earsor lugs pivotally connected together at points ou tand having one of its ends held in a -iixed side of the plane of the hinge-leaves, a springvaxis arranged in Vbearings on one of vthehingeleaves and rotatable therein an @dj usting-colv lar mounted on the spring-axis and rotatable thereon `andarranged lto `be locked or held at any desired posi-tion, aspiring-wire Acoiled or bent aroundor partiallyaroundthe spring-,axis and having one of its endsvoonnectedwiththe adjusting-eollar-andthe other of its Sends foar- IOO ried around with the rotation of the spring- A 

